Full-time mum Sam into print for first time with lockdown tale

The 50-year-old from St Annes makes her literary debut in ‘Connections’, a collection of short stories, with ‘A Tale From The Forest’ and hopes to follow it with her first novel.

Fuzzy Flamingo, the publishers of Connections, say the collection of 21 short stories was created to provide professional and amateur writers with “an escape from the reality of lockdown life, using writing as a tool to get them through difficult times” – and Sam, who is a full-time mum and carer to her youngest two children, Jacob, 14, and Charlotte, 12, both autistic, certainly feels it did that.

“The Covid pandemic created a fire within me,” she said. “I had always dreamed of becoming a writer and this opportunity provided a welcome oasis of calm within the maelstrom of home-schooling two autistic children.

“It provided relief during one of the most difficult times of my life. It has saved my sanity and reignited my passion for writing.

“I always wanted to be a writer, but life always seemed to get in the way.”

Sam’s opportunity to go into print came about by chance, following a conversation with a contact in a group related to jewellery, which she makes from home, who put her in touch with Fuzzy Flamingo.

Now she is keen to build further on the opportunity.

“Although life was intense and stressful for many years, my love of reading and writing never left me - writing ‘A Tale From the Forest’ provided the ‘calm’ in the chaos I desperately needed and I’m determined now to see my novel through.

“I’ve had the story in my mind for years - the ambition is there now to make it happen.”

‘Connections’ includes an eclectic collection of stories each intended to explore a unique take on the relationships we make.

The paperback version will be available from Friday, April 30, priced at £9.99.

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